Gauge and support



P. J. DUFFY I GAUGE AND SUPPORT April 3, 1924.

Filed Jan.' 12 1923 Patented Apr. 8, 1924.

PATRICK J. DUFFY, OF HQLYOKE, MASSACHUSETTS.

GAUGE AND SUPPORT.

Application filed January 12, 1923. SeriaI No. 612,357.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PATRICK J. DUFFY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Holyoke, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gauges and Supports, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates particularly to means for properly gaging and temporarily supporting the cross-pieces in buildings on which wall electric switch boxes and the like are mounted.

a The object is to provide an implement of this kind that can be quickly positioned and will constitute an accurate gauge and support for such cross-pieces.

In the accompanying drawingsz Figure 1 is a view in elevation showing the device in position,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the device,

Figure 3 is a sectional view therethrough.

As disclosed in said drawings, spaced wall studs are indicated at 6, and between these studs are placed supporting bars 7 between t which the usual boxes for electric wall switches or other instrumentalities are mounted. These boxes are ordinarily of a standard size, and are placed at a predetermined distance above the floor. The present instrument is particularly intended for I positioning said cross bars 7 The implement comprises a body, which is composed of angularly disposed walls 8 and 9 adapted to engage the angular faces of the studs 6. The free edge of one of the walls, as 8, is provided with an indicator, in the form of a pointer 10, preferably placed midway between the top and bottom edges of said wall. Said wall is furthermore provided with an integral tubular extension 11, in which is mounted a reciprocatory plunger 12 having a reduced terminal 13 at its inner end, constituting a spur that is adapted to be driven into the face of the studs. The plunger is held against detachment by a pin 14: engaged in aslot 15 formed in the extension 13, said slotpermitting a limited movement the plunger. Said plunger is also preferably provided with a buffer 16 that acts as a cushion if the plunger is driven the full limit of its in ward movement. The outer projecting end of said plunger is provided in one side with a socket 17, and alongside the extension 11,

is a fulcrum projection 18 arranged on the side of the plunger containing the socket 17 blocks 21 may be employed on said seats,

being detachably held in place by screws 22. The said wall 9 also is provided on its inner side with a spur 23, which is in line with the spur 13 and with the indicating pointer 10. v

V The operation of the device is substantially as follows: The height of the center of the box to be mounted on the wall is measured on the two adjacent studs 6 and marked by a pencil, as indicated at 2d. The implement is then placed with the Wall 8 against the outer face of one of the studs, and with the pointer 10 aligned with the line 24. The wall 9 is against the inner side face of the stud and the spur 23 is embedded in said face. The plunger 12 is then struck with the hammer and its spur 1S embedded in the outer face of the studs.

As a consequence the implement will be temporarily but effectively mounted on the stud and the upper and lower seats 19 will be lo cated equidistant from the line 24; The cross pieces 7 can thus be positioned against said seats and the space between will be the space to be occupied by the box. The distance between the two seats 19 is of course the standard height of the box, but if a longer boxis employed the tiller blocks 21 are utilized. It will be understood that two of these implements are simultaneously used, one on each stud, it only being necessary to reverse them. To release said implement it is only necessary for the operator to take a screw-driver, insert the end in the socket 17 of the plunger 12, and by employing the projection 18 as a fulcrum, the plunger can bev withdrawn. The placing of the spurs 13 and 23 in line with the indicator pointer 10 is important, inasmuch as it permits the proper positioning of the device, and the driving of the plunger will not cause the implement to wabble and become displaced.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction, operation and many advantages of the herein described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, without further description, and it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any or the advantages of the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure Letters Patent, is

1. In a gauge of the character set forth,

a body comprising angnlarly disposed plates adapted to engage different faces of a wall stud or the like, for supporting the gauge and work on said wall stud or the like, comprising devices on both of said plates for embedment in the stud faces, and a work support on said body.

2. In a gauge of the character set forth, body comprising angularly disposed plates adapted to engage different faces of a wall stud or the like, a plunger in one plate having a spur for embedment in the stud, means on the other plate coacting with the spur to support the body on said wall stud or the like and a work support on said body.

3. In a gauge of the character set forth, a body comprising angularly disposedplates adapted to engage different faces of a plate stud or the like, a plunger in one plate having a spur for enibedment in the stud, and a work support on the other plate of said body.

a. In a gauge of the character set forth, a body comprising angularly disposed plates adapted to engage different faces of a wall stud or the like, a plunger in one plate having a spur for embedinent in the stud, and also provided with a tool-receiving socket, and a fulcrum for a tool engaged in said socket, said fulcrum being 10- cated alongside the plunger.

5. A gauge of the character set forth, comprising a reversible body having oppositely arranged work supporting seats at its ends, and means for securing the body to a support with either seat uppermost and both simultaneously exposed to be engaged by and to position pieces of work.

6. A gauge of the character set "forth, comprising a body having angularly disposed walls, a support-engaging spur projecting from one wall, a second supportengaging spur on the other wall and coacting *ith the first spur to sustain the body on a support, and a work holding seat on said body.

7. A gauge of tl1e character set forth, comprising a body having angularly disposed walls, a support-engaging spur projectingfrom one wall, a second supportengaging spur on the other wall said spurs cooperating to sustain the body in any desired position on a support, and a work holding seat on the first mentioned wall of said body.

S. A gauge of the character set forth, coi'nprising a body having angularly disposed walls, one of said walls'having oppositely dis osed woilcsupporting seats at its ends, and said wall having a fixed supportengaging spur a plunger slidably mounted in the other wall and having a spur in reg istry with the first spur, an indicator on said latter wall in registry with the spurs, and means whereby the plunger may be operated to extract the plunger spur from a support. I

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

PATRICK J. DUFFY. 

